Update to this post – United has acquired Continental. Find United Airline pet policies
Several recent incidents has caused United to re-evaluate its pet policy for transporting certain breeds in cargo through its SafePet Program.
United’s PetSafe Program will be amended in several ways. They will no longer allow Series 700 (giant) pet crates. Additionally, they will no longer allow the following breeds in the cargo hold:
Dog Breeds: Affenpinscher, American Bully, American Pit Bull Terrier/Pit Bull, American Staffordshire Terrier/”Amstaff,” Belgian Malinois, Boston Terrier, Boxer, Brussels Griffon, Bulldog, American Bulldog, English Bulldog, French Bulldog, Old English Bulldogges, Shorty Bulldogs, Spanish Alano/Spanish Bulldog/Alano Espanol, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Chow Chow, English Toy Spaniel/Prince Charles Spaniel, Japanese Chin/Japanese Spaniel, Lhasa Apso, Mastiff, American Mastiff, Boerboel/South African Mastiff, Bullmastiff, Ca de Bou/Mallorquin Mastiff, Cane Corso/Italian Mastiff, Dogo Argentino/Argentinian Mastiff, Dogue de Bordeaux/French Mastiff, English Mastiff, Fila Brasileiro/Brazilian Mastiff/Cao de Fila, Indian Mastiff/Alangu, Kangal/Turkish Kangal, Neapolitan Mastiff/Mastino Napoletano, Pakastani Mastiff/Bully Kutta, Pyrenean Mastiff, Presa Canario/Perro de Presa Canario/Dogo Canario/Canary Mastiff, Spanish Mastiff / Mastin Espanol, Tibetan Mastiff, Tosa/Tosa Ken/Tosa Inu/Japanese Mastiff/Japanese Tosa, Pekingese, Pug, Dutch Pug, Japanese Pug, Shar-Pei/Chinese Shar-Pei, Shih-Tzu, Staffordshire Bull Terrier/”Staffys,” and Tibetan Spaniel.
Cat Breeds: Burmese, Exotic Shorthair, Himalayan and Persian.
Additionally, United will be comparing all paperwork associated with your pet (health certificate, titre test, rabies vaccination, etc.) to be sure that the breed reference is correct and consistent. This action is to assure the safety of the animals, passengers, and employees.
Owners of breeds that are considered dangerous need to be concerned about this policy change. Pet and passenger safety is of primary concern to the airlines. Obviously, many of these stronger breeds cannot be confined in a plastic cargo crate. Changes that will insure that events do not reoccur must happen in order for pet owners to be able to transport their pets safely.
Annette – American Airlines offers nonstop service between MCI and PHX. You will need to contact their cargo department for details on cost and the locations of their cargo facilities. Your dog will need proof of rabies vaccination and a health certificate issued within 10 days of travel. Their regulations are here: https://www.pettravel.com/airline_pet_rules/american.cfm. Your daughter’s dog will need to fly in an IATA-compliant pet crate like these: https://www.pettravelstore.com/pet-crates/.
Susan
I am trying to transport my daughter’s 2 year old mixed breed dog from KC to Phoenix, non-stop 2+ hour flight. I cannot accompany the dog. She is 2 probably 45 lbs, not a bit risk (according to her records).
What is the best airline? SWA does not transport any cargo animals, so they are out. I have never done this, trying to make the best of a stressful situation. thank you
This is by far the worst thing an airline could do. I have had APBT all my life, and other BSL band breed and have never had any issue with them in fact the only dogs to ever take a piece out of me and I do mean a piece was a wiener dog and golden retriever. To state that Pit Bulls are aggressive animals is unfair any animal that is scared or filling trapped would act the same way. Most airline make you remove the locking nuts and put zip ties on which do not take much to break. that is what they made me do to fly to Japan but I had no issue.
I do agree it is still America and the company should be able to make it’s own rules. I admit I would be a lot more alarmed if a Pit Bull got loose on a plane I was on rather than a lab. LOL. Some people don’t make certain the crate is securely put together so it could happen easily. The comment that “no one breed is more dangerous than another” is laughable. The dog breeds cannot be compared to human races. We are all the same race. Co is great to fly with. I use them as my FIRST choice always..I fly rescue puppies and probably fly averaging 3-4 a month. Wake up people. There is such a thing as a locking jaw. Just look at them and you can see the difference in the jaws even. Anyone with experience with pits can explain the jaw thing. I have experienced it with the puppies. It is not a joke. I LOVE CONTINENTAL AIRLINES!!!
This is STILL America. The Company has a right to decide what it does and does not wish to do. If you, the consumer, do not like and/or agree with their rules, then do not patronize their Company. It’s just that simple!!!
I personally LOVE Continental for shipping puppies. I drive 150 miles to drop off instead of 30 miles to drop off at another air carrier.
What a insane reaction. The pit bull got loose, bit no one. So a lab got loose before – why are they not on the list? I am not only never using Continental for pets, I won’t use it myself. FYI, the last time I sent a dog to Houston through Continental one of the other dogs flying was DOA according to the adopter who picked up my dog. Seems like Continental would do better to look into their own safety records rather than ban dogs for their breed.
Just a thought, maybe the folks who make these dog kennels should make them stronger for the large breed dogs.
I have to say that I’ve used CO to ship almost 100 rescue dogs to various locations. I have always been impressed by the quality of their Pet Safe program and their commitment to safely transporting animals. Obviously, if they feel that there is a risk of certain larger dogs being able to break out of plastic crates, they should make an adjustment to their proceedures. It’s also for the animal’s safety – being on the loose at a busy airport and then swimming in Flushing Bay could have ended tragically for this dog. I honestly wouldn’t ship my dogs through any other airline.
I say all dog people stop flying CO! Easy fix!!!!
Historically, Continental has not transported pit bull breeds. One of the issues was that the breed of the dog was not represented consistently in the forms accompanying the animal. However, if the crate that the dog was shipped in was not strong enough for a pit bull, it would not have been strong enough for many breeds of dogs.
That is ridiculous. Its like saying certain races of people are more dangerous than others. Get educated! All dogs could be dangerous, there are many contributing factors to determine this. Size does not matter either! Oh, no such thing as a “lock jaw” all dogs can bite down and HOLD with their strength. No one breed is more dangerous than another! Bad decision.